In the summer of 2003, Charlotte and I decided to take a trip across the country by rental car (why a rental? Don't ask--it's complicated, dull, and annoying.), stopping at various friends along the way, seeing the sights, and culminating in our annual visit to the Burningman festival in Nevada. This is the diary we kept along the way.
| Rough Itinerary | |
|---|---|
| July | |
| 14-20 | Jamestown NY |
| 20-21 | Cleveland OH |
| 21-24 | Louisville KY |
| 24-25 | Memphis TN |
| 25-26 | Hot Springs AR |
| ? | Oklahoma City OK |
| ? | Albuquerque NM |
| 30 | Taos NM |
| 31 | Mesa Verde CO |
| August | |
| ? | Grand Canyon AZ |
| 6-8 | Tucson |
| 8-10 | Phoenix AZ |
| 10-11 | Indio CA |
| 11-13 | Los Angeles CA |
| 13-16 | Yosemite CA |
| 16-24 | San Francisco CA |
| 24 | Tahoe CA |
| Reno NV | |
| 24-Sept 1 | Black Rock City NV |
| September | |
| 2 | Salt Lake City UT |
| 3-11 | ????? |
| 12 | Louisville KY |
Charlotte writes:
We have seen lots of animals and birds. A wild turkey in Kentucky (appropriately enough) Hummingbirds: blue throated, black chinned, broad billed, broad tailed ands rufous. Mostly in New Mexico, although I was buzzed by a black-chinned on McFee Resevoir, in Colorado.
A lone Road runner in Northern Texas.
Stellers Jays near Hyde Park, Sante Fe & AZ A magpie, Pinyon Jays, Turkey buzzards, and canyon swifts, western scrub jay, and mexican jay, and several ravens (Mesa Verde).
We got buzzed by some type of hawk trying to commit Hari-kari on our windshield, while we were on the highway. It was reddish brown, but we couldn't really identify it clearly. Our guide book is not really made for amateurs (Audubon Society field guide to the Southwestern States). I like the guides that are organized by colors. They are much easier to navigate.
Animals:
Lizards:
Hoping all your beasties are exciting,
Love
Lotta
PS. Today we think we saw two kangaroo rats in Canyonlands National Park in Utah, but they were small and fast-moving, so we're not certain.